Everything You Need To Know About Non-Profit Business Loans

Just as any other business, enterprises in the non-profit sector also need to borrow money from time to time to meet their financial needs. In fact, much like for-profit companies, non-profits also need to buy machinery and equipment, rent real estate or office space, and pay salaries of employees.

And, like a for-profit company, a non-profit too needs to generate revenue by offering services or from donors.

What Is A Non-Profit Business Loan?

A non-profit business loan is essentially a business loan tailored to suit the needs and requirements of non-profits in particular. This is because non-profits often find it difficult to take out a term loan, a line of credit or a cash advance.

Lenders are reluctant to lend to non-profits as these loans can be riskier as compared to lending to a for-profit organization. This is why many non-profits are forced to rely on government grants and donations, which can quickly dry out if the priorities of the donors change, leaving them unable to carry out their operations at full stream.

A lender would typically want to know about the annual revenue of the non-profit, its plans of fundraising and the costs involved therein as well as any other relevant information including financial data.

How To Apply For A Non-Profit Business Loan?

While the process of applying for a non-profit business loan will vary from one lender to another, such an enterprise will typically need to furnish detailed information on their financials.

Typically, well-established lenders, with experience of lending to non-profits may be more amenable to lending to such entities than new lenders that have not been around for long.

Since lending to non-profit organizations is considered a riskier proposition, they may be asked to furnish a collateral. The collateral will give a lender extra comfort in lending to the non-profit organization, as the pledge can be invoked in case the borrower is unable to repay the principal amount or interest.

A non-profit organization should consider certain things before applying for a business loan. They should be mindful of the repayment schedules and whether they will be able to repay the principal and interest in full, within the tenor of the loan. If they cannot do so, their credit history could be negatively impacted and they may find it difficult to raise money in future.

Moreover, non-profits should closely read the fine print before signing on the dotted line. As mentioned above, they should approach only reputed lenders that have had a good footing in the market for some time.

Conclusion

It can be tougher for a non-profit to borrow money as compared to a for-profit company. Only the most established lenders typically lend to such organizations. Moreover, such entities need to furnish their financials and may also be required to provide a collateral to get a business loan approved.

This is not to say that a non-profit cannot get a business loan. One should, however, keep the non-profit’s ability to repay in mind, before opting for a business loan and should make sure that the same is paid back in full and in time.